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This is the last post of the Halloween edition of scary food additives to avoid; 5 more scary food additives to avoid.

Here is Part I and Part II.

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5 More Scary Food Additives to Avoid

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Artificial Food Colorings

Artificial Food Colorings include the likes of Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, etc. An addition to food or drink, they are any dye, pigment or substance that imparts color to the item.

Find it in: candy, sausage, baked goods, soda pop, gelatin desserts and many other beverages in general

Of interest: Food coloring correlations in everything from ADHD to tumors, cancer, gastric discomfort and more.

Caramel Coloring

Caramel Coloring is made from caramelized sugar, usually with ammonium compounds, acids, or alkalis.

Find it in: Colas, baked goods, pre-cooked meats, soy and Worcestershire sauces, chocolate-flavored products, beer

Of interest: Caramel is produced from commercially available nutritive sweeteners consisting of fructose, dextrose (glucose), invert sugar, sucrose, malt syrup, molasses, starch hydrolysates and fractions thereof.

The acids that may be used are sulfuric, sulfurous, phosphoric, acetic, and citric acids; the alkalies are ammonium, sodium, potassium, and calcium hydroxides; and the salts are ammonium, sodium, and potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, phosphate (including mono- and dibasic), sulfate, and bisulfite.^[2] 

Its color ranges from pale-yellow to amber to dark-brown. {Also make note: Caramel Color may or may not contain gluten. It’s one of the very tricky ingredients you need to be extra-cautious of.}

Acesulfame Potassium

Acesulfame potassium (ay-see-SUHL-faym) is a calorie-free sugar substitute (artificial sweetener). You’ll see it also written as Acesulfame K or Ace K (K being the symbol for potassium). You’ll see it under the trade names Sunett and Sweet One.

Find it in: baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin desserts, diet soda

Of interest: Acesulfame potassium is 200 times sweeter than sugar. There has been an association with cancer and thyroid problems and this additive as well.

Annatto

Annatto’s seeds are sourced to produce a carotenoid-based yellow to orange food coloring and flavor.

Find it in: butter, cheese and other non-dairy foods such as rice, custard powder, baked goods, seasonings, processed potatoes, snack foods, breakfast cereals and smoked fish

Of interest: Annatto causes hives in some people. In fact, allergic reactions to annatto appear to be more common than reactions to commonly used synthetic food dyes.

Benzoic Acid

Benzoic Acid  is a colorless crystalline solid and a simple aromatic carboxylic acid. Food preservatives come from its salts. Benzoic acid is an important precursor for the synthesis of many other organic substances.

Find it in: fruit juice, carbonated drinks, pickles

Of interest: Benzoic Acid (also called Sodium Benzoate) can cause hives, asthma, or other allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Another problem occurs with sodium benzoate in beverages that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The two substances, in an acidic solution, can react together to form small amounts of benzene. Benzene is a chemical that can cause leukemia and other cancers.

Carrageenans: Debatable

Carrageenans are a family of linear sulfated polysaccharides that are extracted from red seaweeds. They are a thickening, gelling and stabilizing agent.

Find it in: ice cream, jelly, chocolate milk, infant formula, cottage cheese

Of interest: Carrageenans are very debatable. If you have irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease, though, I would strongly recommend avoiding them. The reason is two-fold:

1. Carrageenan is an indigestible family of large molecules obtained from seaweed. Large amounts of carrageenan have harmed test animals’ colons. Note: the seaweed family is hard for many people with digestive disorders in general.
2. Carrageenan has been shown to exacerbate intestinal inflammation in several studies. People with gut problems like IBS and IBD may want to avoid this product.

And there you have it.

What are your thoughts?

Food additives: scary or no concern?

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

1. 1. The Chemical Cuisine of Food Additives
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   3. 12 Paleo Halloween Treats

Xox,
SKH